Sweeney's debut studio album, Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame was released in 2006. None of the album's three singles charted. She achieved a breakthrough when From a Table Away became her first record to enter the US Hot 100 when it debuted at #96 on the chart dated 22 January 2011. In honor of her East Texas background, she has recorded a cover of "East Texas Pines," written by Libbi Bosworth.
Sweeney's career shifted towards the Americana genre with her subsequent releases. Her 2014 album "Provoked" reached the top 20 of the US country albums chart. It was followed by 2017's "Trophy", which made both the American folk and independent albums charts. In 2023, her fifth studio album "Married Alone" was released.
PILLS
Sunny Sweeney Lyrics
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Are they still giving you thrills?
Does your coat still sound like a maraca when you're walking up and down, around the Tennessee hills?
The prescription that you're taking to the pharmacist is written on a stack of twenty dollar bills
Are you still taking them pills?
I remember back when we used to take 'em
And we'd feel them start to kickin' in
At first we'd feel a tingle, then we'd feel a prickle, like there's something crawling on my skin
I think they nearly made us feel like we belong
They said it's bringing on something for an entire day
And we'd talk about it all night long
Are you still taking them pills?
Are they still giving you thrills?
Do you still feel like you're getting prodded by a hundred thousand nasty little porcupine quills?
You're mind is like a cyclone needing satisfaction
But it empties out as quick as it fills
Are you still taking them pills?
You know it's strange the way time can change a person
Just yesterday it seems like we were getting high
Now I've been clean for years but to be completely honest
I think about it all the time
But wait, I think you don't remember how you know me
I got to say that you don't seem the same
You oughta hang it up cause by the look that's on your face, I think you'll wonder how I even know your name
Are you still taking them pills?
Are they still giving you thrills?
Outside there's a bin man staring at you, can't you see I'm leaning on your window sill?
I'm afraid we might read it in the paper that you're pushing up the daisies and the daffodils
Are you still taking them pills?
Are you still taking them pills?
In Sunny Sweeney's song "Pills," the lyrics explore the theme of drug addiction and its impact on the singer's relationship with someone close to them. The song addresses the ongoing struggle with pills and the consequences it has on the individual's well-being.
The first verse begins with a series of questions directed at the person struggling with addiction. The questions inquire about the continuation of pill usage and if they still provide a sense of excitement. The mention of a coat sounding like a maraca suggests that the individual is constantly carrying pills around, possibly even using them while wandering in the Tennessee hills. The reference to paying for prescriptions with twenty-dollar bills adds a layer of enforcement regarding the extent of pill use.
The second verse reminisces about a time when both the singer and the person addicted would take pills together. The lyrics describe the initial sensations the pills provided, such as tingling and prickling sensations on the skin. Despite the temporary happiness and sense of belonging that the pills initially brought, the addictive nature of pills is evident as they would be discussed all night long. The repetition of the question "Are you still taking them pills?" reinforces the concern and doubt the singer has about the person's current state.
In the third verse, the lyrics further delve into the negative consequences of pill addiction. The questioning continues, focusing on whether the pills still provide thrills and the feeling of being prodded by countless porcupine quills. The individual's mind is portrayed as a cyclone, constantly seeking satisfaction but ultimately emptying out as quickly as it fills. This depiction emphasizes the transient and unsatisfying nature of drug-induced experiences.
The final verse reflects on the changes that time can bring and how it has affected both individuals involved. The singer reveals that they have been clean for years but continues to think about their past drug use. The conversation takes a darker turn as the singer implies that the person struggling with addiction may not even remember them anymore. The lyrics suggest that the person's current state has become unrecognizable and that their life may be in serious danger, symbolized by the bin man staring at them and the potential demise mentioned in the newspaper.
In summary, "Pills" by Sunny Sweeney delves into the complexities of drug addiction and the impact it has on relationships. The lyrics convey concern, nostalgia, and a sense of foreboding as the singer questions the person's ongoing pill use and hints at the potential consequences they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you still taking them pills?
Are you still consuming medication?
Are they still giving you thrills?
Are they still providing you with excitement or pleasure?
Does your coat still sound like a maraca when you're walking up and down, around the Tennessee hills?
Is your coat still filled with pill bottles, making a rattling sound as you move through the Tennessee hills?
The prescription that you're taking to the pharmacist is written on a stack of twenty dollar bills
The payment for your prescription is made with a stack of twenty dollar bills
Are you still taking them pills?
Are you still consuming medication?
I remember back when we used to take 'em
I recall the time when we used to consume them
And we'd feel them start to kickin' in
And we would experience their effects becoming noticeable
At first we'd feel a tingle, then we'd feel a prickle, like there's something crawling on my skin
Initially, we would sense a tingling sensation, followed by prickling, as if something is moving on our skin
I think they almost made us feel a little happy
I believe they nearly brought us a sense of happiness
I think they nearly made us feel like we belong
I think they almost made us feel accepted or included
They said it's bringing on something for an entire day
They claimed that it induces an effect lasting for the entire day
And we'd talk about it all night long
And we would discuss it throughout the entire night
Are you still taking them pills?
Are you still consuming medication?
Are they still giving you thrills?
Are they still providing you with excitement or pleasure?
Do you still feel like you're getting prodded by a hundred thousand nasty little porcupine quills?
Do you still feel as if you're being poked by countless unpleasant porcupine quills?
Your mind is like a cyclone needing satisfaction
Your mind is in a state of turmoil, craving fulfillment
But it empties out as quick as it fills
However, the satisfaction achieved is as fleeting as its arrival
Are you still taking them pills?
Are you still consuming medication?
You know it's strange the way time can change a person
It's peculiar how time has the ability to transform an individual
Just yesterday it seems like we were getting high
It feels like just yesterday when it appeared we were getting intoxicated
Now I've been clean for years but to be completely honest
Now I have abstained from drugs for several years, but to be entirely truthful
I think about it all the time
I constantly reflect upon those experiences
But wait, I think you don't remember how you know me
However, I believe you have forgotten our acquaintance
I got to say that you don't seem the same
I must admit that you don't appear to be the person I once knew
You oughta hang it up cause by the look that's on your face, I think you'll wonder how I even know your name
Maybe you should quit this lifestyle, as the expression on your face suggests surprise at my knowledge of your identity
Are you still taking them pills?
Are you still consuming medication?
Are they still giving you thrills?
Are they still providing you with excitement or pleasure?
Outside there's a bin man staring at you, can't you see I'm leaning on your window sill?
There's a garbage collector observing you from outside, can't you realize that I'm leaning against your window's ledge?
I'm afraid we might read it in the paper that you're pushing up the daisies and the daffodils
I'm concerned that one day we might come across your obituary indicating your death
Are you still taking them pills?
Are you still consuming medication?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRENNEN LEIGH HULBERT, NOEL MCKAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind